Magnetic interface for a water filter assembly

Abstract

A water filter assembly is provided that includes features that facilitate mounting and removal of a water filter cartridge to and from a manifold. In particular, the water filter assembly includes a magnetic interface that simplifies and aids mounting and removal of the water filter cartridge to and from the manifold.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water filter assembly, comprising:
 a manifold defining a first slot and a second slot, the first slot having an opening and a recessed groove and the second slot having an opening and a recessed groove; 
 a first magnet disposed within the recessed groove of the first slot; 
 a second magnet disposed within the recessed groove of the second slot; 
 a filter cartridge removably mounted to the manifold and defining a chamber, the filter cartridge comprising a housing; 
 a filter media disposed within the chamber; 
 a first magnetic member extending from the housing, wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the opening of the first slot receives the first magnetic member and the first magnetic member is attracted to the first magnet; and 
 a second magnetic member extending from the housing, wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the opening of the second slot receives the second magnetic member and the second magnetic member is attracted to the second magnet, wherein the water filter assembly defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and wherein the recessed groove of the first slot has a rise surface extending in a plane along the axial direction and a run surface extending in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, and wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the second portion of the first magnetic member is seated on the run surface of the recessed groove of the first slot. 
 
     
     
       2. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises a bottom wall, and wherein the bottom wall of the manifold defines the opening of the first slot and the opening of the second slot. 
     
     
       3. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water filter assembly defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and wherein the first slot and the second slot each extend along and are spaced from one another along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       4. The water filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first slot and the second slot are spaced opposite from one another along the radial direction. 
     
     
       5. The water filter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first magnetic member extends between a proximal end and a distal end and comprises a first portion extending from the proximal end along the axial direction and a second portion extending from the first portion along a direction orthogonal to the axial direction to the distal end. 
     
     
       6. The water filter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first slot extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the opening of the first slot is defined by the manifold at the first end and the recessed groove of the first slot extends from the second end to about a midline that is midway between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
       7. The water filter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the first magnetic member transitions to the second portion of the first magnetic member at a curved elbow. 
     
     
       8. The water filter assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a protective sleeve wrapped around at least a portion of the second portion of the first magnetic member. 
 
     
     
       9. The water filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are formed of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
       10. A water filter assembly defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction extending about the axial direction, the water filter assembly comprising:
 a manifold comprising a bottom wall and defining a first slot and a second slot each extending along the circumferential direction, the first slot spaced from the second slot along the circumferential direction, the first slot having an opening defined by the bottom wall and a recessed groove, the second slot having an opening defined by the bottom wall and a recessed groove; 
 a first magnet disposed within the recessed groove of the first slot; 
 a second magnet disposed within the recessed groove of the second slot; 
 a filter cartridge removably mounted to the manifold and defining a chamber, the filter cartridge comprising a housing; 
 a filter media disposed within the chamber; 
 a first magnetic member comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the housing along the axial direction and the second portion extending from the first portion along a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the opening of the first slot receives the first magnetic member, the recessed groove of the first slot receives the second portion of the first magnetic member, and the first magnetic member is attracted to the first magnet; 
 a second magnetic member comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the housing along the axial direction and spaced from the first magnetic member along the circumferential direction, the second portion of the second magnetic member extending from the first portion of the second magnetic member along the direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction, wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the opening of the second slot receives the second magnetic member, the recessed groove of the second slot receives the second portion of the second magnetic member, and the second magnetic member is attracted to the first magnet, and wherein the recessed groove of the first slot has a rise surface extending in a plane along the axial direction and a run surface extending in a plane orthogonal to the axial direction, and wherein when the filter cartridge is mounted to the manifold, the second portion of the first magnetic member is seated on the run surface of the recessed groove of the first slot. 
 
     
     
       11. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the first magnetic member and the second portion of the second magnetic member extend from their respective the first portions opposite one another in the direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction. 
     
     
       12. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion of the first magnetic member is formed of a ferromagnetic material and the first portion of the first magnetic member is formed of an insulating material. 
     
     
       13. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first slot extends between a first end and a second end and the second slot extends between a first end and a second end, and wherein the opening of the first slot defined by the bottom wall of the manifold is at the first end of the first slot and the first magnet is disposed at the second end of the first slot and the opening of the second slot defined by the bottom wall of the manifold is at the first end of the second slot and the second magnet is disposed at the second end of the second slot. 
     
     
       14. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first protective sleeve wrapped around at least a portion of the second portion of the first magnetic member; and 
 a second protective sleeve wrapped around at least a portion of the second portion of the second magnetic member, wherein the first protective sleeve and the second protective sleeve are both formed of an elastic material. 
 
     
     
       15. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the manifold is mounted to a cabinet of an appliance. 
     
     
       16. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the manifold defines an inlet, and outlet, and a main chamber, and wherein the water filter assembly further comprises:
 a chute defining an inlet passage and an outlet passage, the chute movable within the main chamber between a first position and a second position, and wherein when the chute is in the first position, the inlet passage of the chute is not in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet passage of the chute is not in fluid communication with the outlet, and wherein when the chute is in the second position, the inlet passage of the chute is in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet passage of the chute is in fluid communication with the outlet. 
 
     
     
       17. The water filter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic member extends between a proximal end and a distal end and the second magnetic member extends between a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the second portion of the first magnetic member extends from the first portion of the first magnetic member to the distal end of the first magnetic member along the circumferential direction and wherein the second portion of the second magnetic member extends from the first portion of the second magnetic member to the distal end of the second magnetic member along the circumferential direction.